Why do you write beer reviews?

I don't, Giving a score is enough for me.

 

As a previous poster mentioned, I like to write as well, and my business writing stifles creativity somewhat. I don't go out very frequently since we've got the baby now, and sometimes when my wife wants to watch one of her shows (shudder) I like to grab a new beer, relax in another room, and try to figure out the different elements. I review for myself, but with a broader audience in mind. I've frequently gone back to look at past reviews and I've found that the process has helped me pick out beers for friends when they ask me what they should order.

 

In the present total beer geek environment folk won't take you seriously if you don't review or tick. True story.

 

That's pretty much where I'm at right now- I'm just trying to contribute something useful whenever I can. I took a big hiatus from reviewing, but started again recently when I would see that there were only a handful of reviews of a certain beer I was having. It's still a bit of a pain, and I still have to be in the right mood, but it's a (re-)start .

 

I read them before buying beers sometimes, so I like to put back my thoughts as well. I rate pretty much every beer I drink on Untappd, but writing a full review is a new thing for me.

 

Because it gives my alcoholism a "reason."

 

Because I like to contribute to the collective body of scientific knowledge...[tongue slightly in cheek]

If my review, in some small way, helps someone choose better beer and is more informed because of it, then it's all good.

When I was a craft beer noob I relied heavily on the thoughtful and astute reviews of many experienced BA and maybe I can pay it forward in my efforts. Or not. Beer me.

 

I'm clinically insane.

 

Highly agree. Writing things down helps my memory. Also, writing helps me choose my descriptors more carefully. I can say something is hoppy, but what kind of hoppy? Earthy, piney, spicy? It really helps me when I might have two very similar beers and want to find the elements that make them different.

 

That's it exactly. I keep most of my reviews to myself in my beer log, but I write notes and a short review for everything I try. It helps me keep track, and I can look back and determine patterns to discern what I got out of each beer.

 

Way back when it was just a fun thing to do with the 'ol college roommates --summer of 1991-- and we kept it all in a spiral "Mead" notebook. Made for a breezy break from our collective obsessing over "DMing", Rennfest, and Marvel comics. Soon enough it became a fascination that spurred us on into the big, bad world of homebrewing, and the rest is (as they say) a lotta of relaxing with murky homebrews.

The notes helped us to improve along the way, and reviewing became second-nature after all of that, even though none of us ever went the full-on BJCP route.

 

I want to track all the beers I have tried. To me it's fun to go after stuff I haven't had before.

 

For me, as bad as some of mine are, it is a way to keep track. I double up with a spreadsheet filled with tasting notes, so in some respects it has just become a habit. As I transferred notes to reviews, thought it was a way of contributing to the hive mind. Lately I have been more willing to use the hads just to participate or give a quick rating on a less than full pour as i have one more tastings. I do try and go back to fill in reviews, though, when i buy a bottle of something i have tasted. In a way, writing a review also gives me some measure of calibration. I don't read reviews before tasting and forming my own opinion, so when I write I can compare and see if I am somewhere in the neighborhood regarding my score and what I pick up in flavor and aroma.

 

I've only done a few, but realized that the more beers I try, the less accurate my reviews are.

Meaning - Certain beers that I've tried a few years ago peril in comparison to ones that I've had since. So certain reviews may be skewed by when or how I drank them.

 

I review very few beers, the beer has to absolutely move me in one way or another. I love beer and love trying new and different things, I just don't always feel the need to share my feelings. Honestly if I like it I really don't care who else does. I don't mean to sound contrarian, I'll talk beer with anyone. I just get tired of people who think that because they seek out or trade for " rare" offerings, they have a more developed palate. There is a lot of great beer available in most places, drink it, enjoy it, share it.


I've been drinking.

 

"Rate, yes I do... so why would we need 1436 different opinions of the mouthfeel and the aroma...." - posted in thread

Better question is why would we need any ratings without reviews?

 

I like to take the time to enjoy the beer and writing a review usually helps me slow down and drink the beer. I like to wait until I have a good 30 minutes of down time usually with not too many people around and just focus entirely on the beer. Makes it taste that much better and helps me relax.

 

I write beer reviews so I can develop a good beer experience.

I like beer, I like understanding beer. So thinking and writing about beer makes you evolve in both cognitive and sensorial ways, at least when 1) you're trying to write always better than the last time and 2) being the most beer-scientific accurate as possible. Writing about beer and reading what others might've written about some beer is the best way to learn things about the experience of a beer. I remember using BA to read what others thought about some X beer that had lots of things in it (like banana, clove, orange, tangerine, lemons, stuff, stuff, stuff, etc.) so I could find that same thing in the beer too. That was the only way I could educate my palate.

 

Writing is a passion for me, and I am always looking for a creative outlook on things I enjoy, and drink is one of them.

Along with my own blog/ytube stuff, BA fills a niche for me to show my love of beer in the best way with other writers who like beer as well.

 

I used to write reviews for just about everything in order to further my understanding of beer. I've made it to the point where I know what I'm tasting, so my reviews are a lot more brief now, and I only review if the mood strikes me, usually if I'm drinking a beer that I feel is either over or underrated.